"A historically intriguing coming-of-age drama, starring a protagonist who discovers a surprising resilience." - Kirkus Reviews
"A YA novel—based on the traumatic experiences of the author’s mother-in-law—focuses on the Spanish Civil War.
María Luisa Muñoz Morales was born in 1919 in Alcoy, Spain, a small mountain town. Her father is in the Spanish military. After a posting in the southern coastal city of Cádiz, he is promoted to major in 1932, and the family moves to Madrid. Although María suffers from debilitating bouts of severe anxiety, she is beginning to enjoy the excitement of living in a big city. But trouble is brewing in Spain. The Second Spanish Republic, ruled by a left-wing political party, has turned a blind eye to violence against the Roman Catholic Church. The new constitution forbids religious education, and the Republicans are now attacking the clergy and burning churches. The Nationalists, led by Francisco Franco, are organizing a rebellion. María does not know much about the political situation, but her younger brother, Luis, fills her in as they watch their church smoldering. Meanwhile, María’s mother, after giving birth to baby Miguel, is sinking steadily into depression. It is 1936, and María, at 16 years old, finds herself supervising an increasingly incorrigible Luis and caring for Miguel. Suddenly, the family must go into hiding. Secretly, María’s father has been working with the Nationalists. When Papa is arrested, responsibility for the family falls to María. The novel deftly tracks her emotional growth over the next three years, as she develops from a frightened, naïve young girl into a formidable support for her family while the Spanish Civil War rages around her. Duran presents the political complexities of the war in simple, digestible bites for her YA audience. But she is quite specific in her vivid depictions of the fear and deprivations—especially the unrelenting hunger— endured by the citizens of Madrid. Descriptions of the jail, which María repeatedly visits to bring her father food, are frightening. The prose is peppered with Spanish phrases and proverbs (always translated), lending an air of authenticity to the narrative. And there is a special poignancy in María’s struggle to control her overwhelming panic attacks.
A historically intriguing coming-of-age drama, starring a protagonist who discovers a surprising resilience." - Kirkus Reviews
"A YA novel—based on the traumatic experiences of the author’s mother-in-law—focuses on the Spanish Civil War.
María Luisa Muñoz Morales was born in 1919 in Alcoy, Spain, a small mountain town. Her father is in the Spanish military. After a posting in the southern coastal city of Cádiz, he is promoted to major in 1932, and the family moves to Madrid. Although María suffers from debilitating bouts of severe anxiety, she is beginning to enjoy the excitement of living in a big city. But trouble is brewing in Spain. The Second Spanish Republic, ruled by a left-wing political party, has turned a blind eye to violence against the Roman Catholic Church. The new constitution forbids religious education, and the Republicans are now attacking the clergy and burning churches. The Nationalists, led by Francisco Franco, are organizing a rebellion. María does not know much about the political situation, but her younger brother, Luis, fills her in as they watch their church smoldering. Meanwhile, María’s mother, after giving birth to baby Miguel, is sinking steadily into depression. It is 1936, and María, at 16 years old, finds herself supervising an increasingly incorrigible Luis and caring for Miguel. Suddenly, the family must go into hiding. Secretly, María’s father has been working with the Nationalists. When Papa is arrested, responsibility for the family falls to María. The novel deftly tracks her emotional growth over the next three years, as she develops from a frightened, naïve young girl into a formidable support for her family while the Spanish Civil War rages around her. Duran presents the political complexities of the war in simple, digestible bites for her YA audience. But she is quite specific in her vivid depictions of the fear and deprivations—especially the unrelenting hunger— endured by the citizens of Madrid. Descriptions of the jail, which María repeatedly visits to bring her father food, are frightening. The prose is peppered with Spanish phrases and proverbs (always translated), lending an air of authenticity to the narrative. And there is a special poignancy in María’s struggle to control her overwhelming panic attacks.
A historically intriguing coming-of-age drama, starring a protagonist who discovers a surprising resilience." - Kirkus Reviews
"Anyone who prefers historical fiction and coming-of-age tales will find Nervous Mary
a rewarding reading experience." - Readers' Favorite 5-Star review
“Nervous Mary is a historical fiction novel by Laura Atwood Duran based on the experiences of the author's mother-in-law during the Spanish Civil War in the late 1930s. In the year 1936, sixteen-year-old Maria Munoz-Morales' life turns upside down when Spain erupts into a civil war, plunging her family into harrowing circumstances. In response to a Nationalist military uprising, the Republican government begins arresting and executing sympathizers and supporters of the Nationalist and Falangist factions, leading to Maria's father's imprisonment and torture at the hands of the Republican militia. The oldest of her three siblings, Maria has no choice but to take responsibility for her younger brothers and a sick mother. Plagued with anxiety and nightmares, Maria puts up a brave front as she and her brothers risk starvation and death while the Nationalists inch closer to Madrid.
A heartbreaking look at a family facing the brunt of a civil war, Nervous Mary is a well-researched and thoughtful study of the devastating impact of war on innocents. Author Laura Atwood Duran draws inspiration from her mother-in-law's experiences in the Spanish Civil War and weaves a captivating tale showcasing the resilient spirit of human beings amidst loss and tragedy. The narrative is unflinchingly raw and doesn't portray either side as heroic or evil. Instead, Duran focuses on the human side of things as war causes havoc, regardless of one's political leanings or religious preferences. The characters are well-fleshed-out and feel genuinely authentic. You can't help but care for Maria and her family's fate. Anyone who prefers historical fiction and coming-of-age tales will find Nervous Mary a rewarding reading experience." - Readers' Favorite 5-Star review
a rewarding reading experience." - Readers' Favorite 5-Star review
“Nervous Mary is a historical fiction novel by Laura Atwood Duran based on the experiences of the author's mother-in-law during the Spanish Civil War in the late 1930s. In the year 1936, sixteen-year-old Maria Munoz-Morales' life turns upside down when Spain erupts into a civil war, plunging her family into harrowing circumstances. In response to a Nationalist military uprising, the Republican government begins arresting and executing sympathizers and supporters of the Nationalist and Falangist factions, leading to Maria's father's imprisonment and torture at the hands of the Republican militia. The oldest of her three siblings, Maria has no choice but to take responsibility for her younger brothers and a sick mother. Plagued with anxiety and nightmares, Maria puts up a brave front as she and her brothers risk starvation and death while the Nationalists inch closer to Madrid.
A heartbreaking look at a family facing the brunt of a civil war, Nervous Mary is a well-researched and thoughtful study of the devastating impact of war on innocents. Author Laura Atwood Duran draws inspiration from her mother-in-law's experiences in the Spanish Civil War and weaves a captivating tale showcasing the resilient spirit of human beings amidst loss and tragedy. The narrative is unflinchingly raw and doesn't portray either side as heroic or evil. Instead, Duran focuses on the human side of things as war causes havoc, regardless of one's political leanings or religious preferences. The characters are well-fleshed-out and feel genuinely authentic. You can't help but care for Maria and her family's fate. Anyone who prefers historical fiction and coming-of-age tales will find Nervous Mary a rewarding reading experience." - Readers' Favorite 5-Star review
“NERVOUS MARY is a fascinating book that, based on poignant family stories, finds a balance between the perspectives of the enemy camps. It also serves as a warning about the dangers of social and political polarization that much of the world is experiencing today.
As the son of Republican refugees, this book offered me a new view of the war and helped me understand those I have seen as rivals. It reminded me that when we are not open to understanding the concerns and needs of our ideological adversaries, it is easy to dehumanize them, and this can have terrible consequences. I hope Nervous Mary helps people of all ages to explore different points of view and find common ground with people who do not share their vision of the world.” - Dr. Juan Carlos Areán, Futures Without Violence, specialist in prevention of gender violence
As the son of Republican refugees, this book offered me a new view of the war and helped me understand those I have seen as rivals. It reminded me that when we are not open to understanding the concerns and needs of our ideological adversaries, it is easy to dehumanize them, and this can have terrible consequences. I hope Nervous Mary helps people of all ages to explore different points of view and find common ground with people who do not share their vision of the world.” - Dr. Juan Carlos Areán, Futures Without Violence, specialist in prevention of gender violence
"Nervous Mary is a story based on the life of the author’s mother-in-law during the Spanish Civil War. The story starts out with the main character, María, the daughter of a military officer, living a relatively carefree life with her parents and brother Luis and then the addition of baby Miguel. María is a highly-strung, somewhat stubborn teenager, mostly focused on getting her own way!
Life changes radically for María when war breaks out and Madrid is one of the front lines of the battle between the Republicans and the Nationalists. Her father is arrested, and the family have to flee their home in Calle Santa Engracia to hide out in an apartment in nearby Calle Génova for the duration of the war. María’s mother starts to suffer from anxiety attacks and then has a nervous breakdown and abdicates in her parenting role, leaving Maria to fend for the household, taking care of her baby brother and trying to keep her older brother safe from being conscripted or taken prisoner as well as the agonizing daily hunt for food. The course of events force Maria to grow up fast and take on enormous responsibilities, putting her family before herself and undergoing tremendous hardship.
The narrative is fast-paced and entertaining, a real page-turner. It offers insights into the deprivations suffered by those on the Nationalist (Franco’s) side during the Civil War, but is in no way partisan. Anyone familiar with Madrid will recognise the street names and the buildings, many of which were bombed, looted or turned into prisons. The beautiful capital city became a battleground for the three years of a bloody war, brother against brother.
The chapter headings provide an original linguistic and cultural aspect as they are all popular sayings of the time in Spanish, translated into English, that the author then incorporates into the dialogue. Although the target audience for Nervous Mary is teenagers, this cameo of Spanish society and the suffering of the civilian population during the Civil War can be highly recommended to adults of all ages.
The accompanying website offers fascinating insights into Nervous Mary as well as suggestions for students and teachers. The photo above is taken from the web page, showing María as a 20-year old." - Karen's Korner
Life changes radically for María when war breaks out and Madrid is one of the front lines of the battle between the Republicans and the Nationalists. Her father is arrested, and the family have to flee their home in Calle Santa Engracia to hide out in an apartment in nearby Calle Génova for the duration of the war. María’s mother starts to suffer from anxiety attacks and then has a nervous breakdown and abdicates in her parenting role, leaving Maria to fend for the household, taking care of her baby brother and trying to keep her older brother safe from being conscripted or taken prisoner as well as the agonizing daily hunt for food. The course of events force Maria to grow up fast and take on enormous responsibilities, putting her family before herself and undergoing tremendous hardship.
The narrative is fast-paced and entertaining, a real page-turner. It offers insights into the deprivations suffered by those on the Nationalist (Franco’s) side during the Civil War, but is in no way partisan. Anyone familiar with Madrid will recognise the street names and the buildings, many of which were bombed, looted or turned into prisons. The beautiful capital city became a battleground for the three years of a bloody war, brother against brother.
The chapter headings provide an original linguistic and cultural aspect as they are all popular sayings of the time in Spanish, translated into English, that the author then incorporates into the dialogue. Although the target audience for Nervous Mary is teenagers, this cameo of Spanish society and the suffering of the civilian population during the Civil War can be highly recommended to adults of all ages.
The accompanying website offers fascinating insights into Nervous Mary as well as suggestions for students and teachers. The photo above is taken from the web page, showing María as a 20-year old." - Karen's Korner
"Nervous Mary is an excellent read! Meticulously described to transport the reader to a different time and place in history. The attention to detail brings young Maria and her family to life before our very eyes. As a reader you feel the full range of emotions, the happiness, the sadness, and the longing. The desperation of hunger for physical nourishment and for a return to normal life. The fear for survival and the bravery to endure. Most of all for hope, hope for peace, hope for the future. I must say this reader was sad to reach the end of this enthralling story; and very excited to learn there will be a sequel continuing the saga of Maria and her family.
Thank you Laura Atwood Duran for this beautiful book, obviously written from the heart." Jana Lang
Thank you Laura Atwood Duran for this beautiful book, obviously written from the heart." Jana Lang